These Surprising Foods Balance Out of Whack Hormones Naturally

Think hormones are only good for controlling your mood? Think again. According to Women in Balance, “hormones are incredible chemical messengers in our body that affect our brain, heart, bones, muscles, and reproductive organs and are an essential part of the working of every cell in the human body.” Just like most anything, hormones work the best when they are balanced. But, sometimes life gets in the way of their harmony.

The good news is, you can combat hormone imbalances caused by menopause and other key factors. Curious to know more? Here are the best foods to balance your hormones.

1. Chickpeas

Chickpeas are easy to incorporate into soups, salads, and snacks. | Mikafotostok/iStock/Getty Images

One way to balance your hormones with food is to incorporate antioxidant-rich legumes, like chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans) into your diet. In her book, Eat Pretty, beauty and health coach, Jolene Hart explains, “Chickpeas are a fiber-rich source of complex carbohydrates that stabilize your blood sugar levels, staving off wrinkles and hormonal imbalance.”

2. Rosemary

Another way to incorporate hormone-balancing foods into your diet? Add more herbs — specifically, rosemary. “The energizing scent of this herb boosts mood and enhances memory,” says Hart in a post on her blog. “And it’s thought to help remove excess estrogens from the body and balance hormones,” she adds.

3. Egg yolks

Good news! According to this article by MindBodyGreen, your breakfast go-to may actually help balance your hormones. Rich in vitamins and minerals — such as vitamins A, D, E, B6, iron, calcium, potassium, and choline, eggs can help promote a healthy reproductive system, balance hormones, and even give you healthy, beautiful-looking skin.

4. Coconut oil

This holy grail does it all. | Rodrigo Bark/iStock/Getty Images

When it comes to foods that balance your hormones, you’ll want to look for ones that contain lauric acid — like coconut oil. Thanks to its lauric acid levels, coconut oil and other products can be beneficial to the health and healing of the skin and hormonal production. In addition, lauric acid can give you a quick burst of energy.

5. Quinoa

Get your crockpot out for quick and easy quinoa. | Karisssa/iStock/Getty Images

Need another reason to incorporate quinoa into your diet? Let it be for its hormone-balancing superpowers! In an article on Prevention, naturopathic physician, Dr. Trevor Cates explains how we can benefit from everyone’s favorite grain during menopause.

“Unlike other grains, which are higher on the glycemic index and can raise your blood sugar, quinoa is a complex carb high in protein, so it helps keep blood sugar stable,” says Cates. “This prevents a domino effect where elevated blood sugar triggers higher insulin and, in turn, higher androgen levels,” she adds. Bottom line: Eat more quinoa.

6. Avocado

Another hormone-supporting superstar? Avocado. Similar to egg yolks, avocado is full of hormone-balancing vitamins and minerals — think: vitamins E and B and potassium. In addition, avocado is a healthy fat which allows our bodies to better absorb these hormone-balancing nutrients.

7. Vitex berries

You might not be familiar with them, but they’re so useful. | Marilyna/iStock/Getty Images

If you’ve never heard of vitex berries, now’s the time to put them on your radar. According to this article on Wellness Mama, vitex berries — aka: chaste tree berries — can actually nourish the pituitary gland and “help lengthen the luteal phase.” In addition, they may also help lower prolactin and raise progesterone.

8. Sage

Get to chopping some fresh sage. | Merc67/Getty Images

Another herb that can help balance out your hormones? Sage. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, “the herb sage is thought to contain compounds with estrogen-like effects, and there’s good evidence that it can effectively manage menopause symptoms.”